Holmes edges Sofokles by one vote in City of Newburgh's 4th ward; Sofokles plans legal challenge

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Posted Sep. 18, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Updated Sep 18, 2013 at 4:57 PM

Posted Sep. 18, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Updated Sep 18, 2013 at 4:57 PM

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GOSHEN — Cindy Holmes was claiming victory in the Democratic primary for City Council in the City of Newburgh's fourth ward.

But opponent Patricia Sofokles is planning to go to court to challenge the results, which showed her losing to Holmes, 119 to 118.

Orange County Elections Commissioner Susan Bahren said no additional absentee ballots turned up in the mail Tuesday, the last day ballots could arrive by mail and be legally counted. The ballots had to be postmarked by Sept. 9.

The final totals probably will be certified on Thursday, regardless of any legal challenge.

Sofokles is pinning her hopes on a ballot on which a voter hand-printed her name underneath where it already was printed on the ballot, instead of filling in the circle next to her name. Bahren said write-in votes for candidates whose names appear on the ballot cannot be counted.

If that vote counted, the resulting tie would send the decision back to the city's Democratic committee, which had endorsed Sofokles.

Whoever ultimately is ruled the winner will face former council member Christine Bello, a Republican, in the general election Nov. 5.